Automa vs n8n
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted automation & workflows options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
n8n
Workflow automation with a node-based editor
| Feature | Automa | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 100 · Excellent |
| Category | Automation & Workflows | Automation & Workflows |
| License | MIT | Sustainable Use License |
| Language | Vue | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 21,640 | ★ 205,815 |
| First released | 2021 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Zapier, UiPath | Zapier, Make |
What are Automa and n8n?
Automa
Automa is an open-source browser extension that automates repetitive web tasks using a visual block-based workflow builder. Workflows run locally in the browser and can be scheduled or triggered.
- Visual workflow builder
- Browser task automation
- Scheduling and triggers
- Runs locally
n8n
n8n is a workflow automation tool with a visual node editor that connects apps and APIs, with optional code steps. It targets technical users automating processes across services. It is deployed via Docker.
- Visual node-based workflows
- Hundreds of app integrations
- Code nodes for custom logic
- Self-hostable with no execution caps
Automa vs n8n: key differences
Automa is written in Vue, while n8n is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Automa versus Sustainable Use License for n8n. Automa is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for n8n. N8n is the more established project (first released 2019), while Automa arrived in 2021. N8n has the considerably larger community, at 205,815 GitHub stars versus 21,640. N8n lists first-class Docker deployment; Automa does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Automa if…
- Visual block builder
- Runs entirely locally
- Scheduling and triggers
Watch out for
- Browser extension only
- Complex flows get fiddly
Choose n8n if…
- Powerful and flexible
- Huge integration library
- Code when you need it
Watch out for
- License is fair-code, not OSI
- Complex workflows get unwieldy
Frequently asked questions
Is Automa or n8n better?
Neither is universally better. n8n has the larger community, while Automa is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Automa and n8n free and open-source?
Yes. Automa is licensed under MIT and n8n under Sustainable Use License. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Automa and n8n with Docker?
Automa: check the project docs for container support. n8n: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Automa or n8n?
Automa has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for n8n. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.